How Do You Decide Which Devotion?

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There are so many devotions out there & so many people telling everyone which devotion is really important. Which devotions do you have & how did you choose them?
 
Personally, I pray the rosary every day. I ask St.Faustina for her intercessory prayers daily…I know that St. Jude has also “rallied” for me and I have an evergrowing love for Padre Pio.

It all started with the rosary…without knowing why, out of the blue, I wanted to and learned how to pray it. It was the preparation for grace that I would need in order to overcome the trial I would endure a few years later.

I sustained an injury one day two years later that in the end, led to a total of 8 MRI’s; several other painful exams; 2 brain scans and numerous blood tests in an effort to discover what was causing a slow but total body paralysis. Over the course of one year, scarring formed in my cervical area where I’d sustained the injury. It had slowly and undetectedly begun to grow over my spinal cord; causing my body to become paralyzed. My husband was terrified but strong in front of me. I faced the fear in telling my children that their mother possibly had a brain tumor or some fatal muscle disease. Most of time, I couldn’t explain my condition to anyone…including myself. How could I, if the many doctors I saw couldn’t either?

As a last resort, an MRI was done in my cervical area, it was the only part of my body I had not had one done. After viewing the result, emergency surgery was scheduled for 3 days later. Prior to surgery, the doctor, a specialist, along with a couple of others, had determined that it would be necessary to cut through my vocal cords. He says that upon commencing surgery, the viewable scarring was extensive; hence the damage it had caused. They weren’t sure if anything could be done at that point.

These days, my doctor tells me that I shouldn’t be talking, walking, or be able to do the little bit I’m now capable of physically. What a gift from God!

As a consequence, I did lose the very good job and nice home we had not to mention the income itself. I miss it all sometimes but it is now more of a fond memory than a need that remains unfulfilled.

I will never be able to get back the physical capabilities I had before my injury. I’m o.k. with this…far more wealthier now than I was back then…and I do speak spiritually here. God loves me and has always…it’s just that now, I understand what that means.

All this being said, there is only one prayer, one devotion that we all need, and that’s the Our Father. It’s the one and only prayer Jesus himself taught us. Sometimes, it’s the only prayer I can utter with reverence. However, like many of us, if you are being drawn to a specific prayer, saint, and/or devotion, then abandon all confusion or unecessary debate and begin praying. The graces you’ll receive are endless and intended for you.

(Note: Just a few months before my emergency surgery, I’d learned online the Divine Mercy Chaplet. It was recited by my family just before I was wheeled into surgery.) I know St. Faustina prayed for me…I know my true job now…every chance I’m given, I will speak (or write) of our Father’s divine mercy and how willing and ready he is to shower us with it.
 
There are so many devotions out there & so many people telling everyone which devotion is really important. Which devotions do you have & how did you choose them?
As part of my postulancy with the BSP and CFP, I am putting together a program that would require two hours of devotion per day. The Rosary and Chaplet Of Divine Mercy are the two anchors. I use other prayers from various sources. I also do nightly Compline and Sunday Vespers. A work in progress:o
 
I think I go in and out of devotions… or I’m just bloody inconsistent.

I used to be very attached to the Divine Mercy Chaplet and would pray it daily. No particular reason, just attracted to it, I guess.

Then I kind of fell from that devotion and went for a time period without one. Mostly just contemplation and one on one talk with God.

Right now I’m really into praying the Liturgy of the Hours (morning, mid-day, evening, and night prayers).

🤷 I dunno. I just kinda wonder about to different devotions, come back to some, wonder about some more… I really love being exposed to so many of the riches of devotions, though.
 
Ask the Holy Spirit for guidance in leading you to the right one.

At my Disciples of Jesus through Mary meeting last week, it was discussed how one shouldn’t switch or abondon a devotion during a time of spiritual dryness. It is during that dryness that one should remain even more faithful to the devotion. When the dryness has passed, that’s the time to “re-evaluate” the possibility of exploring another devotion, with, of course, guidance from the Holy Spirit.

cheers,
Cari
 
Always remain devoted to the Eucharistic Jesus and to Mary as your mother. Concentrate on those two–never waver. And, as you feel inclined to take up others, feel at peace to do so. Each devotion I have practiced for however brief a time as been a stage of spiritual growth.
 
The word “devotion” itself gives us some idea.

I think that devotion develops over time. Whichever prayer you want to pray, you need to be patient. At first, you can pray a prayer, and you still find nothing special about it. Be opened up to God and allow Him to work in your heart and soul. Sooner than you expect, you will find the devotions that God has intended for you - but it is still your own will that you accept this invitation of His.

Devotions can go along with sacrifice. What kind of sacrifice? That is some topic we can discuss about.
 
My most consistent devotion is 3 Hail Marys per day, one in honor of the Father, one in honor of the Son and one in honor of the Holy Spirit.

I used to exhaust myself with long prayers and complicated devotions.

You know what?

The best devotions are the most simple ones. Why?

1). You’re more likely to remember to do them.
2). They take less time.
3). They’re more easy to remember HOW to do.

This avoids the feeling of guilt you get when you’re like me and fall asleep by the middle of the second decade every time you pray the rosary.

I say: Keep it simple and stupid.

But I do have great respect for people who are able to consistently keep up complicated devotions for years and years on end. I am just not one of those great souls.

God Bless!

Mary Ann
 
I did not include one thing: The Mass, only because it is not a devotion. It is a sacrament.

Devotions give you Actual Grace. Sacraments give you Sanctifying Grace.

Moreover, receiving the Eucharistic Christ forgives venial Sins. You also are given remission of most temporal punishment for those sins, if I remember correctly. (This is acc. to Father Hardon).

I say: If you can go to Daily Mass, then do so. The Mass, hands-down, far exceeds any devotion.

If you can get in the habit of going to Daily Mass, then I would say that in comparison, any devotion you may do is moot.

God Bless!

– Mary Ann
 
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